Roll film camera for cartridges having a single mode-changing control operable from the cartridge exterior

Abstract

In a roll film camera, using a cartridge, an alternately actuatable slider-locking and cartridge-latching mechanism, a film-gate adjustment device for releasably pressing against a film gate, and a coupling mechanism operative for activating, and, respectively, inactivating the camera feeding mechanism, are operatively connected to a common mode-changing control operable from the cartridge exterior.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows: 
     
       1. A multiple-mode roll film camera, particularly a miniature camera having an electric drive, comprising in combination: a cartridge insertable into the camera, said cartridge being adapted to hold a film, and being provided with an opening,   a film gate disposed in said, camera,   a slider movable within said cartridge, between a first position covering said opening and a second position, uncovering said opening,   locking means operable for locking said slider in said first position,   latching means operative for latching said cartridge in position in said camera, said locking and latching means being alternately actuatable,   film gate adjustment means operable for releasably pressing against said film gate,   film feeding means operable for advancing the film of the cartridge,   coupling means operative for activating, and, respectively, inactivating said feeding means, and rotatable mode changing means disposed in said cartridge, and operable from the cartridge exterior for selectively actuating said locking and latching means, said film gate adjustment means and said coupling means, respectively.   
     
     
       2. A roll film camera according to claim 1, wherein said mode-changing means include cam means and further comprising cam-follower means in operative contact with said cam means, said alternately actuatable locking and latching means, said film gate adjustment means, and said coupling means being selectively connectable to said cam means through said cam-follower means. 
     
     
       3. A roll film camera according to claim 1, wherein said mode-changing means has a first position for latching the cartridge to the camera, and a second position for unlatching the cartridge from the camera, and wherein said slider locking means has an open position corresponding to said first position, and a closed position corresponding to said second position, and said mode-changing means include cam-and cam-follower means comprising a first cam for actuation of the slider locking means, and wherein said cam-follower means include a lever for sensing the position of said slider, said lever being non-operative when said mode-changing means is in said second position, and serving to make operative contact with said first cam when said mode-changing means is in said first position, and said slider locking means is in said open position, so as to prevent unlatching of the cartridge from the camera. 
     
     
       4. A roll film camera according to claim 3, wherein said cam-follower means include a second lever operatively coupled to said film gate adjustment means and having a curved end, said cam means including a roller eccentrically disposed on said cam means, and further comprising spring means secured to said film gate adjustment means for urging said second lever to be in contact with said curved end. 
     
     
       5. A roll film camera according to claim 2, further comprising yieldably resilient means for urging said cam-follower means to make contact with said cam means, and wherein said cam means has indentations for said cam-follower means to fit thereinto in respective ones of said positions. 
     
     
       6. A roll film camera according to claim 3, wherein said cam means includes a second cam for control of said film-gate adjustment means, and wherein said mode-changing means is rotatable in a predetermined direction when moving from said first position to said second position, and has a third position disposed beyond said first position in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, whereby said film-gate adjustment means is actuated when said mode-changing means is rotated in said direction opposite to said predetermined direction, upon said slider having been moved to said first position, and said coupling means is actuated when said mode-changing means is disposed in said third position. 
     
     
       7. A roll film camera according to claim 6, the camera defining an optical axis, and wherein the mode-changing means has an initial non-operative position intermediate between said first and second positions, said lever serving to operatively restrain said first cam from moving to said second position when said mode-changing means is in said initial position, and wherein said film gate adjustment means are movable between first and second positions in first and second prearranged directions, respectively, opposite to one another, said first and second prearranged directions being substantially parallel with the optical axis.